TRAVEL: Senior citizens stay on course with tour plans

Groups not deterred from seeing world

October 4, 2005
BY KATHLEEN GRAYFREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
When Ray Billings retired from his job with the City of Roseville 16 years ago, he and his wife, Betty, decided to start enjoying life, each other and the countryside they just hadn't had the time to see.

A trip to Niagara Falls with a group of seniors was the Roseville couple's first destination and they've never looked back. The couple are among millions of senior citizens across the nation who are boarding buses, trains and planes to explore the world.

"Years ago, you really had to convince people to take a vacation, but not anymore," said Marye Miller, executive director of the Rochester Older Persons' Center, which offers up to eight trips a month.

Senior centers across Michigan are offering trips ranging from a Tigers game in Detroit to gambling excursions to European tours.

The Billingses -- Ray is 76 and Betty is 73 -- have gone to the Canadian Rockies and Nova Scotia as well as numerous cruises and trips to Las Vegas. They just returned Saturday from the New England Railroad tour, which was the same trip the group from Michigan was on when its boat capsized Sunday on Lake George in New York.

"We met the buses; they were going out as we were coming back," Betty Billings said Monday. "We were on the same type of boat."

The tragedy in New York won't stop the Billingses from their case of wanderlust. And senior directors across southeast Michigan said they don't expect their business to wane.
"From what I know about seniors, they're very resilient and used to dealing with adversity," said Lynn Alexander, director of senior services for Oakland County. "I don't think this will stop them from doing something that's so important for them."

Carole Kline, coordinator of the St. Clair Shores Senior Activities Center where the Billingses are members, said seniors might think twice about small boat trips, but not other forms of travel.
"Some of them can't drive anymore, some are by themselves and want the company of being part of a group," said Kline. "What they all like is that all the travel details are taken care of."
A group of 22 seniors from the Rochester OPC is in the middle of a 12-day tour of the Black Hills. Other upcoming trips include a Holland-to-Hungary tour and a Caribbean cruise.
"They don't have to plan; they can just go and enjoy themselves," said Miller.
The Southgate Travelers go on four to five excursions a month, said Sandy Paddie, the Southgate tour director. On Friday, 35 people will see Disney on Ice at the Palace. Last week, a group went to a farm to pick apples.

"They're not ready to sit down in front of the TV," said Paddie. "They want to enjoy everything while they still can."


Contact KATHLEEN GRAY at 313-223-4407 or gray@freepress.com.